Hailing from Guildford and already critically acclaimed, the five piece release ‘Plans’, their first official EP. With an extensive tour schedule over the past couple of years, Satellite State have steadily been building a fanbase and now reward their loyal fans with this release to rave reviews.
Opener ‘Plans’ is a slow-burning and anthemic piece that crawls under your skin and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. With the dark undertones the likes of Editors and Interpol are specialists in, it is fair to say Satellite State’s sweeping rock could easily find it’s way onto fans of these bands record players.
‘Sometimes/Always’ shows the band at their best, synth effects and U2-style guitars build up into a swelling climax. It’s a song Snow Patrol would have been proud to write. And the perfect fitting soundtrack to the end of a Hollywood film. The finale of the song leaves you wanting more.
Luckily this comes with ‘One Small Step’, a song that has nods to The Verve when Richard Ashcroft isn’t busy being pompous or making monkey noises. A melancholic piece of understated pop-rock, the combination of Gary Nicks’ vocals and guitarist Ciaran Stephens’ backing howling and riffs is both powerful and reassuring. Although the EP is quite one-paced, the band have mastered the craft so this is no bad thing. And there is enough in the instrumentation of ‘Lights Out’ to suggest that this band has a lot of ideas for the future. Nicely piano-led before breaking into an instrumental crescendo, there is the essence of Echo and the Bunnymen – if they decided to take Arcade Fire out for a drink and collaborate. Which could only be a good thing.
Satellite State make heartfelt and intelligent pop with real meaning. Melodic and mellow, this is a band that are infectious and have backed up their live shows with some tremendous recording.
4/5
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